By: Donovan W. Mann – donovanm@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – Humboldt softball uses experience and solid philosophy to perform at a high level as a complete team.
The season for Humboldt High School Softball came to an end in the opening round of the state tournament. While they lost the game to Mount Vernon 7-4 it can not take away from the season the Wildcats had. With a 20-3 record and an North Central Conference title (7-0 NCC record) Humboldt was dominate all season long. This dominance is shown in the numbers and in the words of Head Coach Doug vanPelt who looks back with KHBT on different areas of the the game.
Pitching:
Humboldt used two pitchers this season with Senior Ellie Jacob starting 20 of the Wildcats games and Rising-Freshman Reagan Lee starting the other three (with five total appearances). The duo put up a combined ERA of 1.20 and 202 strikeouts (both third in class 3A). Their batting average allowed of .164 was good for a top ten ranking in the state and second in the NCC.
Coach vanPelt says these numbers and the pitching we saw from the these two Wildcats was the result of the off season work they put in. He say that both girls take pride in working with their families during the off season to come into a season ready to go. He also says that dominant, strikeout pitching, takes a lot of pressure off the defense.
Hear coach’s thoughts:
Defense
Along with pitching, strong fundamental defense is key to a successful season. The Humboldt softball teams was one of the best teams in the state, their 16 team errors tied for second fewest in the state. Their fielding percentage of .971 was good for sixth in the class.
Coach vanPelt gives some credit to the pitching and catching of his squad. He says the fewer plays a defense has to make in a game can take a lot of pressure off a team. He also says their defense is built on their strong philosophy as a team. If a team is going to give them an out then “we sure as heck are going to take it” coach says. He reiterates that it’s when teams start throwing the ball “all over the diamond” that they can get into trouble defensively and make mistakes.
Hear coach’s thoughts:
Offense:
The Wildcats were one of the best teams offensively in Iowa class 3A. Their batting average as a team was .340 which was the highest in the NCC and ninth in class 3A. Their 148 RBIs were the best in the conference as well. They drew the most walks in the NCC (78) and hit by the most pitches (20). They were aggressive as runners also, stealing 75 bases in 81 attempts (third most stolen bases in Class 3A). They also set the school home run record at 20.
Coach says their philosophy once again led to their strong performances. He says a lot of the time the game of softball can come down to how a player handles failing. In comparison to a major league player who is going to fail seven out of 10 times and still be considered a hall of fame career. Coach vanPelt says its about keeping a level head and knowing what needs to be done in a given scenario that kept the bats warm all season.
Hear coach’s thoughts:
Final overview:
Humboldt High School Softball finished with 20 wins in what was a shorten season. They won their region by outscoring their opponents 23-0 and qualified for the state playoffs. Add on a fifth consecutive NCC title (longest streak in program history). It seemed like on any given night the Wildcats could get a big hit from any spot in their line up and their defense never faulted.
Coach vanPelt said it all season long that the chance to play was a gift. He says this is especially true for the senior class that feature eight players that had already lost a lot of those senior moments. Though the team had state title hopes, coach says the loss in the opening round of the state tournament will not take away from what this group accomplished.
The Wildcats had eight of their nine starters land on the all-conference list. Ellie Jacobson was first team as a pitch with Mady Lange being names first team as the catcher. First Baseman Kendal Clark and Shortstop Jori Hajek were first team as infielders with Carlie Thompson being first team as an outfielder. Second Baseman Addie Thompson made it as second team all-NCC along with Right Fielder Claire Varangkounh. Third Baseman Reagan Lee was a third team selection.
In 2021 there will be three starting spots available in the lineup and coach says they will be filled by those who put in the work. He’s excited for what should be another good season of Wildcat softball next year.